Milia ’99 calls for tech entries

Gaming biz joins confab

Milia ’99, the next incarnation of the international trade market for multimedia content, is gearing up for its sixth annual trade show in Cannes this February with the call for entries in its Milia d’Or interactive media awards program.

The Milia d’Or Awards recognizes top achievements in several forms of interactive content during the past year. Entries are open to all distribution formats, including Internet Web sites, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and interactive TV programs and services.

For the first, the Milia tradeshow will be open to the gaming industry, as well.

Last year’s Milia drew approximately 7,300 multimedia authors and artists from 57 countries, including sellers and buyers of the interactive content. Representatives showed from numerous Internet outlets, such as Yahoo and American Online, and from major technology firms like Microsoft and Intel. Interactive divisions of Hollywood studios also sent contingents.

This year, Milia organizers expect at least the same number of Web designers, games makers, CD-ROM developers and publishers to attend.

A total of nine Milia d’Or Awards and 4 Grand Prizes will be handed out during the tradeshow. In addition to the jury awards, Milia will introduce this year the People’s Choice Awards, selected by the public through on an online vote held on the Milia Web site at http://www.milia.com.

Awards will be conferred for top interactive efforts in the nine categories of action, adventure, strategy and simulation/sports games; family entertainment, children’s titles and edutainment, reference and culture, education and training, and interactive information services.

The deadline for submitting entries is Nov. 10. A grand jury and a special games jury, composed of top industry interactive media experts will make the final award decisions. Winners will be announced at the Milia d’Or Awards ceremony during the tradeshow.

Milia will take place Feb. 9-12. France. For more information, contact SSA Public Relations in New York, at (212) 679-4750.